Radiograph illuminator



May 30, 193.3- M. MORRISON 1,911,962

RADIOGRAPH ILLUMINATO R Filed Aug. l, 1931 A .mvENToR 7 70W/CUR@ f lFP50/V Patented May 30, 1933 FFicE PATENT MONTFORD MORRISON, OFMONTCLAIR, EFW JERSEY ASSIGNOR TO TESTING-HOUSE X-RAY COMPANY, INC., ACORPORATION OF 4'.DEI'JAW'ARE n RADIOGRAPH ILLUMINATOR l y Applicationled August Vi1, 1931. Serial No. 554,506.

My invention relates to radiograph illuminator or viewing boXes commonlyutilized for studying radiographic exposures and has particularreference to a device of this general character in which theillumination is equally distributed over the entire surface of thetranslucent window and consequently the radiographic film.

Heretofore in the art such devices have been provided in which theconcentration of light is greater at the center of the lm than over theremaining portions thereof rendering detailed study of the entire filmsby the roentgenologist difficult or impossible. When in such devices aneffort has been made to more equally distribute the light it hasresulted in increasing the illumination of the area of the lm to someextent but shadows have invariably appeared in other portions of thefilm with the same perplexing result when an endeavor to study thedetails of the entire film is made.

It is, therefore7 an object of my invention to provide a radiographicillmninator in which the illumination is equally distributed over theentire surface of the radiographic film.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a radiographilluminator in which no shadows are projected upon the translucentwindow and consequently upon the lm.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a radiographilluminator in which all direct rays from the source of illumina-tionare prevented from being projected upon the translucent window andradiographic film.

Still further objects of my invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a pyramidical form which myinvention may take with a portion thereof broken away to betterillustrate the parts.

Figure 2 is a side sectional view taken on the line II-I of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cubical form of my device with aportion thereof broken away to better illustrate the several y parts,and

Figure A is a side view vof a spherical form which my invention may takeWith a portion thereof broken away to better illustrate the severalparts. f

Referring now to the drawing in detail I have shown in the 'severalfigures an opaque casing 5 supported'upon a suitable base member 6 andthe device arranged to rest upon a table or bracket?.v A translucentwindow 8 of ground, opalescent, or colored glass is provided in theopaque casing 5 and a suitable source of illumination such as anincandescent llamp 9, is secured in a socket 10, and is arranged tolreceive electrical energy from a suitable source (not shown) in theusual manner.` y

A screen 12 of a reflecting metal or coated with a reflecting surface isdisposed between the source of illumination 9 and the translucentwindow8. This screen may be supported in a suitable mannen such as by hingedsupporting Wires 13 thus permitting the screen to be readily moved inorder to give access to the lamp 9 for replacement purposes.

The screen 12 is of an area proportional tothe area of the translucentwindow 8 and is so positionedvrelative to the source 9 and the window 8that all vdirect rays are prevented from being `projected upon thewindow. This may readily be seen by the lines @ze-b which are, at theposition of the window S, of-a greater area than the window.Y The entireinterior ofthe casing 5 being of a reflecting metal or provided with areflecting surface as well as the screen 12 lenables only reflected raystol be projected upon the window 8. v i In this inaner the direct raysemanating from the source 9 strike the interior of the casing and arereflected against the translucent window or strike the screen 12, arethen reflected against the casing, and are again yreflected by thelatter to the translucent window 8 as shown by the lines b-b. `Althoughno direct rays from the source are projected over the entire area of thewindow a uniform distribution of illumination with an entire absence ofshadows of every description results over the entire area of the window8. In order to properly ventilate the viewing boXes small openings, suchas shown at 14, may be provided in a suitable location where they willnot be in a position to be struck by light rays.

When the usual radiographic iilm shown at 15 is positioned in front .o fthe translucent window 8 there is likewise an equal dis.- tribution ofillumination in back of the entire area of the lm 15 which enables .theroentgenologist to make a detailed diagnosis of the entire film.

My device is very readily adaptable te stereoscopic devices in which tworadiograph illuminators are employed. In apparatus of this characterradiographic exposures which have been taken from two distinctangles-are viewed through a binocular device and gives a superimposedeect of the two pictures. By employing an illuminator made in accordancewith my invention the resulting superimposed image is clear and distinctin every detail over the entire area of the film 'corresponding to thearea of the translucent window.

It can thus be readily seen by those skilled in the art that I'haveprovided aradiograph illuminator in which the distribution ofillumination is uniform over the entire area of the translucent windowand in which there is an entire absence of shadows due to no direct raysbeing projected from the source of illumination upon the translucentwindow.

Although I have shown and described one specic embodiment of myinvention I do not desire to be limited thereto as various othermodifications of the same may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

ll. A radiograph illuminator for examining X-ray photographs comprising,an opaque casing provided with a flat translucent window of relativelylarge area, said casing having a plurality of divergent walls havingreiiecting surfaces, a point source of illumination interiorlypositioned in said casing to illuminate the entire area of saidtranslucent window, a reflecting screen interposed between said pointsource of illumination and said translucent window, said screenvbeingsupported by one of said walls and being located relatively close tosaid point source of illumination, said screen having an areaproportional to the area of said window and being positioned relative tothe point source of illumination and said window to prevent direct raysfrom said point source from being projected upon said window and touniformly distribute the intensity of said point source of illuminationover the entire useful area of said translucent window.

2. A radiograph illuminator for examining X-ray photographs comprising,an opaque casing having a reiiecting surface over its entire interiorand provided with a flat translucent window of relatively large area, apoint source of illumination disposed within said casing, said vcasinghaving a plurality .of divergent walls and another wall, said otherwallv being at an obtuse angle to said divergent walls and substantiallynormal to said translucent window, and a refleeting screen, interposedbetween said point source of illumination and said window, having anarea proportional to the area of said window and spaced relative theretoforY subscribed my name this 30th day of July MONTFORD MORRISON.

